News » When you think of the outstanding pick-ups

FIVE QUICK NBA THOUGHTS: 1. LOU WILLIAMS (Raptors): When you think of the outstanding pick-ups of the off-season, this one was a steal for the Raptors, sending John Salmonss expiring contract to the Hawks for Sweet Lou and Lucas Bebe Nogueira. A subtle, under the radar transaction that has paid huge dividends when you consider the increased scoring punch of the Raptors second unit and the overall veteran offensive polish that Williams brings to the table in late clock situations. Hes been everything and more that the Raps could have hoped for. His defensive focus and intensity has been a neat development, as well. 2. ISAIAH THOMAS (Suns): He comes off the bench as a hired gun like Lou Williams and has been marvelous for Phoenix averaging 15.4 PPG and 4.2 APG. Watching him play in Sacramento, I never thought that he was a guy who could start and run your team, yet hes ideal in the role hes being cast in right now. With and abundance of guards already on this Suns team, his signing was one a bit of a head-scratcher of a moves that you wondered about, but its worked out beautifully. Nobody knows a teams needs better than the people around your team each day in your Coaches and front office staff. He fits. 3. LeBRON JAMES (Cavs): He called his team fragile after his team got blown out by the Raptors in the final three quarters on Saturday night and thats a pretty accurate description. It seemed to me that when the Raptors fought back with equal or better force, many Cavs wilted under the pressure and weight of expectations that currently occupy that environment. I said this on Saturday night and Ill say it again - LeBron James and Chris Bosh walked into a stable, disciplined and winning environment in Miami with great leadership, outstanding ownership, front office, coaching and a winner like Dwyane Wade and helped get them to the elite level. Cleveland has been the furthest thing from what Miami looked like and I still think that theyll be good, yet the approach might have to change a bit for LeBron. It might take a bit longer and he might need to be a bit more patient and work on creating better relationships with younger and new teammates before publicly calling them out, even a little bit. Considering that he looked passive at times himself and had only one rebound and a team-high five turnovers to go along with 15 points and 10 assists, James might have to just carry this team on his back and lead by example with elite productivity nightly until they finally see the light of what it takes and follow his lead. These are tense and uptight times in Cleveland. 4. CHRIS KAMAN (Blazers): Kamans played really well in Portland and bolstered the weak spot of their team - their second unit. Averaging 11.1 PPG and 6.7 RPG while shooting .545, he brings the some of the same grit, energy and toughness that Robin Lopez provides with the starting unit. Once again, here early on in the season, the Blazers are starting to roll and their chemistry is impressive. Kaman has been a sound addition to their team. 5. JOSE CALDERON (Knicks): Its good to see the former Raptor back on the court for New York. Hell give them a nice boost by running their offence with precision and his shot-making ability and selfless play will allow his teammates better spacing and looks. Its tough learning a new system and approach of a new coach and even tougher without your starting point guard, whos an ideal fit for the triangle offence. In time, hell give his team good direction. Speaking of former Raptors, what a mess with Andrea Bargnani. First a hamstring injury and now his calf. The guy cant catch a break. That trade with the Raptors hasnt worked out well for the Knicks at all and the folks in the Big Apple are counting the days until his contract comes off their books. Cody Bellinger Jersey . Red Sox outfielder Jonny Gomes, the bandleader of the beard brigade during Bostons run to the 2013 World Series title, said he will be shaving his off before spring training so that he can file it "in the archive" with his memories of the teams improbable championship. Clayton Kershaw Jersey . The veteran NFL receiver received his work permit and is in Montreal for the start of the Alouettes rookie camp. Johnson even took in the Montreal Canadiens Game 5 win over the New York Rangers at the Bell Centre Tuesday night. http://www.dodgersteamproshop.com/Dodgers-Manny-Machado-Kids-Jersey/ . The Los Angeles Clippers showed them just how ugly that life could be. Jared Dudley scored a season-high 21 points, Chris Paul added 16 points and 17 assists, and the Clippers jumped all over the Bulls in Roses absence for a 121-82 victory Sunday. Mark Lowe Jersey . The 25-year-old native of Milford, Conn., has 18 points in 41 games this season. The five-foot-eight 166-pound centre also has 28 points (10-18) in 15 games with AHL Oklahoma City. Matt Kemp Jersey . -- Without Carey Price, the run for a first Stanley Cup in 21 years got steeper and longer for the Montreal Canadiens.Each week, The Three-Man Weave will fill the lanes and Weave To Achieve on the News, Views and Truths of the NBA and beyond. The unit will be led by Will Strickland and Duane Watson, hosts of TSN 1050s basketball radio show, 1 On 1 with Will & Duane. This week, international comedian and basketball fan Frankie “Trixx” Agyemang joins #3MW as they discuss the NBA Playoffs, which have gotten off to a rousing start. Adding to the excitement are the gritty Toronto Raptors, who are in the midst of a historic journey through the NBAs second season. Should the Raptors take Terrence Ross out of the starting line-up and start Landry Fields? Trixx: I do think they should take Terrence Ross out for a more defensive player. And although I think Landry Fields is as valuable as a broken bike reflector, his defence may be valuable... Considering what theyre about to face in BK!Watson: No. Despite Ross lack of ability to slow down Paul Pierce, or get his shot going, you still stick to what got you there. If Ross struggles stem from his inability to adjust to the post-season level of play, benching him is only going to affect the sophomores psyche. Fields was exactly what the Raptors needed on the defensive end, but Coach Casey can regulate his minutes off the bench.Strickland: Yes. Ross shouldnt look at this as a demotion, but rather a way to help him get back as a primary scoring option off the bench on track while helping the team better defend Joe Johnson. Jason Kidd sadistically attacked DeMar DeRozan with the seven-time All Star in Johnson during Game 2 in Toronto. The Raptors were able to overcome Iso-Joe with stellar defence in the most important scoreless 18 minutes of Landry Fields life... and maybe even the Dinos record breaking season. Do the Raptors have enough to take two wins on the road in Brooklyn? Trixx: I feel the Raps can win at least one and they shouldnt get ahead of themselves! Just focus on Game 3, and the possible bullet holes members of M.O.Ps crew may send into most of their dressing rooms! Masai might wanna consider staying in Long Island or perhaps New Jersey for this one... Juss sayin!Watson: Toronto took a much needed Game 2, but still have adjustments to make. For the intensity, noise and energy that Air Canada Centre showed, its going to be interesting to see how the Raptors respond being showered with chants of "Brroooooookkkklllllllyyyyynnnnn" from the Barclays Center faithful. Coach Caseys group were road warriors this season, setting a franchise high with 22 road wins and should be able to take one of the two games.Strickland: Absolutely. Toronto had 40 turnovers in the first two games of the series, so valuing each possession is paramount to success in the playoffs, especially against a veteran team like the Nets. If the young Raptors team can limit their affinity for offering fresh baked pastries to their older opponents, there is an ever greater chance of flipping Brooklyn into "Crooklyn" and steal a game or two games on the road. Is Frank Vogels job in jeopardy if the Pacers lose before the Eastern Conference Finals? Trixx: If the Pacers lose and are eliminated in round one, I dont think theyll necessarily fire the coach, but I do think things will be shaken up! Lance (Stephenson) will probably be gone for his antics and Roy Hibbert thinks Paul George is selfish from those off-court issues. The line-up will definitely be shaken up! Watson: Jeopardy? Yes, not entirely sure if he will get fired, the Pacers looked like they were playing out of Tankers Life Fieldhouse for the second half of the season and couldnt get it together in Game 1 against the Hawks. This team is in a free fall and is in danger of making it out of the first round, when the NBA Finals were the goal. Larry Bird is going to be forced to make some kind of change.Strickland: In our Playoff Preview on #1On1, a wise hoops sage whose name rhymes with "Will Strickland" predicted that the Pacers were primed for an upset by the No. 8 seed Atlanta Hawks, who had destroyed Indyy is the last game of the regular season.dddddddddddd. That said, Frank Vogels squad has been punched in the mouth again by the Hawks, are now down 2-1 in the series after a rollercoaster season of dysfunction and infighting, and are being asked questions they may be unable to answer. Now, if Indy loses this series, much less doesnt advance to the NBA Finals, Vogel might as well place a listing to sell his home there. Are the Washington Wizards for real? Trixx: The Wizards are no joke and they may do more damage than expected in the playoffs... John Wall and the other guys or as I like to call them, "Destinys Child feat John Wall," have no pressure. Theyre just loose and theyre just playing, there are no expectations for them so they have nothing to prove. This makes them very dangerous! Theyve already overachieved by winning more than 10 games this season! Watson: They are about as real as the Raptors and Bobcats are, all three teams overachieved this season and finished above .500. However, the Wizards are facing a tough defensive team with veteran experience and finding ways to win. Theyre getting balanced production, with solid contributions from their bigs in Nene and Marcin Gortat, scoring and speed out of Bradley Beal and John Wall and three-point shooting out of the playoff savvy Trevor Ariza. If the Pacers fall, the Wiz can possibly end up in the Eastern Conference final.Strickland: Along with having backcourt mates of the future in All-Star John Wall and Bradley Beal, the Wizards also possess the calming effect of crafty veteran Andre Miller off the bench, NBA champion utility man Trevor Ariza, the surprising coaching job of perennial hot seat candidate Randy Wittman and a better-than-advertised defence. Under-recognized are their bigs up front in Nene and The Polish Hammer, Marcin Gortat. Washingtons Twin Towers Of Power are a huge reason why nooooooooobody who wears a Bulls uniform beats the Wiz in Chicago yet and Washington has a chance to close the deal in D.C. Which series so far has proven to be must watch TV in the NBA Playoffs so far? Trixx: The most awesome series is hard to say. I know the series nobody cares about and will probably go straight to DVD is the Chicago/Washington series. Two words from Masai made the Raptors/Nets series personal and I must admit, as expected, the OKC/Memphis series has had some pretty good games! Hard to say, but Im enjoying a lot of round one right now! Watson: As soon as the series were set, it was little secret the Golden State Warriors vs. the Los Angeles Clippers was going to be electrifying and it hasnt disappointed. The Warriors ability to score and make big shots whenever needed makes them a team you cant count out; the Clippers are deep and talented with big game players as well. Stephen Curry and Blake Griffin are two of the most exciting players in the NBA and aside from the Game 2 Clippers blowout, the other two games have been decided by six points. Defence will not be the order of the day here.Strickland: Rockets-Blazers, no question about it. LaMarcus Aldridge became a bonafide star in Portlands sweeping of the first 2 games in Houston, flame broiling anyone pretending to guard him to the tune of 44.5 ppg, 12.5 rebs and 2.5 blks. Despite James Hardens poor play thus far, the eyes of the many are trained on Dwight David Howard, who cried his way out of Orlando to the Lakers, came up woefully short of expectations in a drama-filled season in LA and left $30 million on the table to win a title in Houston. On paper, the Rockets are one of the most talented teams in The Association. But the games aint played on paper and the Blazers looked as poised as their sophomore PG Damian Lillard is to launch the Rockets into an early summer vacation.The Three-Man Weave contributors are co-hosts of TSN Radio 1050s 1-on-1 with Will and Duane, Will Strickland (@WallStrizzle1) and Duane Watson (@byDuaneWatson) and guest hoops fanatic and rising Canadian comedic superstar Trixx (@ComedianTrixx) Cheap Buffalo Sabres Gear Wholesale Calgary Flames Jerseys Cheap Adidas Colorado Avalanche Jerseys Montreal Canadiens Outlet Store Wholesale New Jersey Devils Jerseys Adidas Arizona Coyotes Jerseys Cheap Adidas Boston Bruins Jerseys Cheap Adidas Carolina Hurricanes Jerseys Chicago Blackhawks Shop Free Shipping Wholesale Columbus Blue Jackets Jerseys Dallas Stars Shop Free Shipping Cheap Adidas Detroit Red Wings Jerseys Anaheim Ducks Jerseys China Wholesale Edmonton Oilers Jerseys Florida Panthers Shop Free Shipping Wholesale Los Angeles Kings Jerseys Minnesota Wild Outlet Store Cheap Adidas Nashville Predators Jerseys Cheap Adidas New York Islanders Jerseys New York Rangers Winter Classic Jerseys Cheap Adidas Ottawa Senators Jerseys Cheap Adidas Philadelphia Flyers Jerseys Wholesale Pittsburgh Penguins Jerseys Cheap Adidas San Jose Sharks Jerseys St. Louis Blues Winter Classic Jerseys Wholesale Tampa Bay Lightning Jerseys Toronto Maple Leafs Outlet Store Vancouver Canucks Outlet Store Cheap Adidas Vegas Golden Knights Jerseys Cheap Adidas Washington Capitals Jerseys Cheap Adidas Winnipeg Jets Jerseys ' ' '